The Park

A 2.85-mile stretch of Valley View Street running from Lincoln Avenue to Artesia Boulevard is set to undergo a major $4.7 million overhaul following an agreement between Buena Park, La Palma, and Cerritos.

The heavily traveled thoroughfare serves as a key connection to both the 91 and Interstate 5 freeways for commuters and commercial vehicles. According to Buena Park’s 2026–2032 Citywide Pavement Management Plan, Valley View Street currently holds an average Pavement Condition Index score of 65, placing it in "fair" condition, though several segments are rated "poor."

Buena Park Public Works Director Mina Mikhael noted that the street currently suffers from structural failures, extensive asphalt cracking, faded line striping, damaged landscape medians, and cracked or broken sidewalks and accessibility ramps. The overhaul aims to revitalize the corridor, extend the road's operational life, and improve conditions for motorists and pedestrians.

The scope of work includes asphalt pavement rehabilitation, fresh line striping, updated signage, traffic control planning, and the removal and replacement of damaged curbs, gutters, cross gutters, and sidewalks. Crews will also make utility adjustments, raising or lowering manholes, pull boxes, and water valves so they sit level with the new asphalt, eliminating bumps for passing vehicles. Existing non-compliant curb ramps will be brought up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

Mikhael stated that the project will not include traffic light synchronization. City staff are evaluating the potential addition of bike lanes, though Mikhael noted that the street may be too narrow to accommodate the required five- to six-foot clearance, adding that the city wants to avoid installing disjointed bike lanes that lead to nowhere. Mayor Connor Traut noted that officials are also looking into quality-of-life enhancements along the corridor, such as planting trees and flowers to improve neighborhood aesthetics and absorb traffic noise.

Buena Park will serve as the lead agency because the majority of the project falls within its city limits, taking responsibility for design, project coordination, construction, and contract administration. Buena Park’s portion of the work will be funded through Measure R, a voter-approved one-cent sales tax measure passed in 2024.

Under the cooperative agreement, La Palma’s share of the project is estimated at $900,000, while Cerritos’ share is estimated at $575,000. Both partner cities are tasked with reviewing and approving plans for their respective sections, participating in inspections, and reimbursing Buena Park once the work is complete.

Buena Park staff are currently finalizing the project design—which includes determining final signage and ADA ramp requirements—and expect to advertise for construction bids this month. Construction is projected to begin in January 2027 and will take approximately four months. To limit traffic disruptions, work will be conducted in phases, closing specific lanes at a time or taking place during off-peak hours.

The Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees is evaluating six redevelopment proposals for the vacant, 18-acre Hope School property located at 7901 Knott Ave. in Buena Park. Following a unanimous board vote in January 2026 to solicit plans—stemming from a 2023 directive to explore revenue-generating opportunities that address community needs alongside declining enrollment and financial pressures—district legal counsel Tao Rossini praised the developer response as an "extraordinarily strong showing." Hope School originally opened in 1969 as the district’s sole dedicated special education facility, serving over 200 students before its operations and staff were relocated to the former Orangeview Junior High School campus at the start of the current school year.

The submitted plans outline a range of residential, healthcare, and financial opportunities for the site. San Diego-based Community HousingWorks proposes 589 residential units—comprising 36 townhomes, 126 workforce housing units, and 429 affordable housing units—alongside a five-acre healthcare facility using phased financing. MW Investment Group and C&C Development submitted a plan featuring 255 market-rate townhomes and 85 workforce apartments on 14.9 acres under a 99-year lease projected to generate $227.4 million for the district, while reserving up to five acres for a healthcare facility. Meanwhile, Los Angeles-based Storm Properties envisions 250 housing units on 12.5 acres aimed at attracting families to rebuild district enrollment, with the remaining 7.5 acres dedicated to a healthcare or professional facility and an initial annual rent payment of $1.17 million.

Other developer proposals center on community-focused developments paired with housing. Santa Ana-based TAIT and Charleston-based Greystar proposed 250 market-rate units and 90 affordable and workforce units requiring no district funding, centered around an "educational wellness village" that includes a health learning center and childcare facility. The Michaels Organization submitted a concept utilizing the entire 18 acres for garden-style apartments combining 140 low-income units and 250 workforce units, while reserving two acres with existing structures for direct district use. Finally, Roseville-based USA Properties proposed 500 total units—300 affordable apartments and 200 build-to-rent townhomes—along with a 2,000-square-foot community health center operated with the Coalition of OC Community Health Centers, estimating $307.5 million in lease revenue over 99 years.

District staff will continue assessing all six submittals before presenting a narrowed shortlist of developers to the Board of Trustees. A specific date for the shortlist presentation has not yet been set.

Disney is set to outline a five-year theme park roadmap during the upcoming D23 fan event in Anaheim, promising attendees a detailed look at new rides, themed lands, and entertainment planned for its global resorts. The three-day convention kicks off Friday, Aug. 14, at the Anaheim Convention Center, headlined by a major keynote showcase titled "Horizons: A Carousel of Progress." Scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. inside the Honda Center, the presentation will be hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris and streamed live on Disney+, featuring appearances by Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum.

Local theme park fans are particularly focused on anticipated updates for the nearby Disneyland Resort. At Disney California Adventure, attendees expect progress reports on two major Avengers Campus additions currently under construction: the motion-based dark ride Avengers Infinity Defense and the robotic-arm attraction Stark Flight Lab, along with character appearances by Dr. Doom timed to a Dec. 18 film release. Guests are also awaiting details on a newly started "Coco" boat ride near Pixar Pier and an "Avatar: The Way of Water" land slated to replace the Hollywood Land backlot, a project tied to the planned 2027 closure of Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!. Across the esplanade at Disneyland Park, presentation updates may cover long-range plans for Tomorrowland—where Autopia is set to convert to electric engines early next year—as well as news on a permanent animatronic dragon for "Fantasmic!" and a limited 2027 return of the Main Street Electrical Parade.

Expansions across Florida's Walt Disney World Resort will also take center stage during the weekend presentation. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is preparing for a 2027 launch of its 11-acre Tropical Americas area, Pueblo Esperanza, which will feature an Indiana Jones dark ride and an "Encanto" boat ride. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a new "Monsters, Inc." land titled Monstropolis is set to replace the Muppets Courtyard with a suspended door coaster, a show at the Glob Theater, and a Harryhausen’s dining location. Additionally, Magic Kingdom plans call for a "Cars" off-road thrill ride expansion called Piston Peak National Park, alongside a dedicated Disney Villains Land showcasing dining spots themed to Hades and Kronk and major attractions centered on Maleficent and Ursula.

International developments will complete the global showcase. Attendees are expecting updates, official titles, and opening timelines for a Spider-Man thrill coaster under construction at Shanghai Disneyland, as well as details on a Marvel-themed drop tower expanding the Stark Expo at Hong Kong Disneyland. In France, Disneyland Paris is constructing a "Lion King" land with a Simba-themed flume ride inside the newly renamed Disney Adventure World. Disney may also address the current status of its first Middle Eastern resort in Abu Dhabi, which remains in early planning stages following recent geopolitical tensions in the region.

On June 16, 2026, The Los Angeles Times released a comprehensive guide detailing 67 activities across Southern California curated specifically for tweens and teenagers. Compiled by newsroom staff alongside West Coast Experiences Editor Michelle Woo, the wide-ranging report spans dozens of local neighborhoods and cities—including Buena Park, Anaheim, Downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Inglewood, Santa Ana, and Santa Monica. To maintain strict editorial integrity, journalists independently visited every listed venue and did not accept free meals or complimentary admission.

The guide highlights an eclectic array of hands-on educational, creative, and interactive experiences. For tech-minded teens, the Octavia Lab at Downtown L.A.'s Central Library offers cardholders ages 12 and older access to 3D printing, music recording, and digital archiving equipment. In Arlington Heights, teens ages 13 and up can tackle "The Ladder by Hatch Escapes," a 90-minute corporate-themed escape room spanning five decades of workplace history. Meanwhile, Beverly Grove boasts the Sloomoo Institute, L.A.’s only slime museum, where visitors can walk through a slime lake, launch catapults, and design custom DIY concoctions.

Immersive media and themed dining destinations also feature heavily throughout the report. In Inglewood, Cosm delivers panoramic sports and experiential films on an 87-foot-diameter domed screen, currently showing a 25th-anniversary presentation of *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone*. Manga and anime fans can head to Downtown L.A.'s Little Tokyo to dine at the nautical-themed One Piece Cafe, which serves dishes like Sanji’s "Diable Jambe" Chicken Katsu Sando alongside official merchandise. For music lovers, West Hollywood’s Mic Drop recently expanded private room karaoke access to guests ages 10 and older prior to 9 p.m. with an adult chaperone, while the Downtown L.A. Grammy Museum provides an educational look at music history.

Active and retro recreational venues round out the regional recommendations. Bicyclists can utilize the asphalt bumps and banked turns at the Grow Cycling Foundation's Inglewood Pumptrack inside Edward Vincent Jr. Park, while rollerskaters can glide across maple wood floors beneath disco balls at Glendale’s historic Moonlight Rollerway. Other featured stops include animal-assisted yoga classes at Laughing Frog Yoga in Sawtelle and Silver Lake's Photo Booth Museum, which houses restored analog booths dating back to the 1950s. Area residents interested in sending additional venue ideas can submit suggestions to guides@latimes.com.

A new reading trail featuring seven hand-painted Little Free Library boxes now lines the walking path between the Ehlers Event Center and the Buena Park Library District. On a typical Tuesday afternoon, the shelves of these compact community hubs are rarely left full for long as local residents stop by to browse and borrow books.

The initiative began last spring with a single book cabinet installed outside a barbershop on Beach Boulevard. To reflect a city where more than half of all households speak a language other than English at home, volunteers stocked the initial cabinet with donated paperbacks in English, Spanish, and Korean. Over the summer, neighborhood residents expanded the project by adding six more boxes, which were decorated by Buena Park High School art students and are now maintained by families living within a block of each site.

Daily operation of the trail relies on dedicated oversight from assigned stewards for each location. These volunteer stewards inspect their respective shelves twice a week to remove worn or damaged volumes and ensure children’s picture books remain arranged at eye level for young readers. Stewards also exchange inventory among themselves to balance age groups and languages across the trail, an effort that included transferring a batch of bilingual early-reader books to the box near the middle school in July.

For a city often defined by its highway corridors and theme park attractions, the reading trail illustrates how local literacy and community engagement can flourish through small, everyday interactions along neighborhood sidewalks. Residents interested in donating books or volunteering as box stewards can reach the volunteer team through the Buena Park Library District’s community desk.

This test article verifies the Culture-Fluent queue end to end. Buena Park residents share neighborhood stories through the Culture-Fluent desk, and this submission confirms a pitch lands as a pending draft, can be approved by an editor, and then appears in the Culture-Fluent section.

Buena Park Honors FIT Committee for 10 Years of Building a Healthier CommunityBUENA PARK, Calif. — August 11, 2026 — The City of Buena Park recognized the Buena Park FIT Committee during the August 11 City Council meeting, celebrating a decade of resident-led efforts to improve health, nutrition, physical activity, and quality of life throughout the community.

Buena Park City Councilmember Carlos Franco joins members of the Buena Park FIT Committee at City Hall as the City recognizes the committee’s 10th anniversary of service on August 11, 2026. For a decade, volunteer members have worked alongside the City and community partners to promote healthier living through nutrition education, physical activity, community gardening, improved mobility, and resident-led wellness initiatives throughout Buena Park.

What began in 2016 as residents and parents advocating for healthier opportunities for local families has grown into ten years of programs and projects touching schools, parks, neighborhoods, and generations of Buena Park residents.

The FIT Committee’s mission has centered on improving health and wellness through community leadership and action. Over the past decade, members have promoted physical activity, healthier nutrition, community gardening, walking and bicycling, improved connections between homes and schools, public transit use, and anti-smoking initiatives.

But behind those programs is a story of residents who saw needs in their own families and neighborhoods—and decided to do something about them.

Founding member Norma Guillermo traces her involvement back to volunteering in local schools and recognizing that children’s nutrition and limited opportunities for physical activity were directly connected to their ability to thrive.

“We started as volunteers in our schools because we saw what our own children needed,” Guillermo said. “We understood that a well-nourished child who has opportunities to be physically active is better prepared to learn. We advocated for more physical education and healthier habits, and today it’s rewarding to see students succeeding academically while also discovering a love for sports and exercise.”

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Students from Buena Park High School unveiled a 40-foot mural along Beach Boulevard this week, painted over six Saturdays with the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. The mural traces the city's history from ranchland to a arts corridor. City leaders said the project shows what happens when young artists get paid studio time.

COSTA MESA — Months of early mornings, hard work and unwavering commitment culminated in an unforgettable finish for students from the Buena Park High School FFA Chapter, who brought home some of the highest honors at the 2026 Orange County Fair.

The chapter earned Grand Champion Market Beef, Grand Champion Market Lamb, Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb and Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Market Broilers, competing against exhibitors from across Southern California. Students showed one steer, twelve market lambs, seven goats, fifteen market hogs, twelve rabbits and numerous poultry projects.

Behind every championship ribbon were months of preparation, discipline and teamwork. Through the spring livestock season, students kept daily feeding schedules, conditioning workouts, showmanship practice and morning runs, plus countless hours caring for their animals.

"At the beginning of the season, I told my students I would work as hard as they were willing to work," said Paulina Cortez, Buena Park High School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. "They chose to give everything they had. Together we built more than successful livestock projects — we built discipline, consistency, resilience, and a team that genuinely cared about one another."

Among those celebrating was Gavin Sanchez, who called exhibiting at the fair one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. "It wasn't just about competing — it was about everything that led up to it," he said. "I met so many people who share the same passion for agriculture, learned from incredible mentors, and became part of a community that pushes each other to be better."

Agricultural education programs like Buena Park FFA pair classroom instruction with hands-on learning in animal science, leadership, responsibility, public speaking, financial management and teamwork — lessons on display across the fairgrounds as students cheered each other on in and out of the show ring.

Downtown Buena Park gained a vibrant new addition this week as students from Buena Park High School officially unveiled a culture-fluent mural celebrating the city's rich diversity. The new public artwork highlights the contributions and heritage of the community's Korean, Latino, and Filipino populations, adding color and meaning to the downtown district.

The project was a labor of love for local youth, featuring several panels painted over the course of six weekends. A dedicated group of two dozen volunteers came together to execute the design, donating their weekends to bring the collaborative artistic vision to life for the entire city to enjoy.

The newly completed mural now stands as a lasting tribute to the multicultural roots that define Buena Park. Downtown visitors and residents are encouraged to stop by the site to view the artwork, which serves as a point of local pride and a celebration of student creativity.

**Buena Park Rotary Presentation Highlights Educational Innovations and Infrastructure Projects**

At a recent Buena Park Rotary meeting, local education leaders outlined ongoing efforts to transform the city's public school district and expand opportunities for students.

During her presentation, Dr. Lee shared that she accepted her position with the goal of challenging established systems to create new possibilities for Buena Park students. Working alongside Principal Jay, Dr. Lee has utilized non-traditional approaches to revitalize district operations and academic programs.

The presentation emphasized that numerous new initiatives are currently underway across Buena Park schools. Among the physical upgrades highlighted is the installation of a new track and field facility at the middle school.

Election season is underway in Buena Park as Councilmember Carlos Franco and Congressman Derek Tran hit the campaign trail ahead of the November 3, 2026 General Election.

Franco is campaigning for re-election to Buena Park City Council District 2, highlighting priorities such as clean and safe streets, stronger local businesses, improved infrastructure, and responsive city government.

Tran is seeking re-election to represent California’s 45th Congressional District, which includes Buena Park. After winning the closely contested district in 2024, Tran is again campaigning throughout the community, with affordability and issues affecting working families among the major themes of the race.

With both local and congressional seats on the ballot, Buena Park voters will have an important voice in shaping their representation at City Hall and in Washington, D.C., on November 3, 2026.

Knott’s Berry Farm unveiled the full lineup for its 53rd annual Knott’s Scary Farm season during a "Nightmares Revealed" preview event on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. The iconic Buena Park event—running on select nights from Sept. 17 through Oct. 31 as a separate-admission night—will feature 10 haunted mazes, five scare zones, three stage productions, and over 1,000 monsters throughout the park. During the preview event, attendees sat in on design panels, viewed makeup demonstrations and wardrobe displays, and took lights-on walkthroughs of the returning "Room 13" and "Widows" mazes.

Headlining this season's additions are two original haunted mazes. "Inked," located beneath the Xcelerator roller coaster and designed by "The Zoo" creator Daniel Miller, brings guests into the 1930s setting of Morbid Studios, where a broadcast turns blood into ink and brings murderous cartoons into the real world. In the former footprint of the Mystery Lodge, designer Jon Asperin’s "Unearthed" places visitors alongside a search and rescue team responding to a distress call at an archaeological dig, where released ancient tablets have freed a malevolent force. Eight mazes will return for 2026, though park management confirmed that two fan favorites—"Origins: The Curse of Calico" and "Chilling Chambers"—will be permanently retired after this season ends.

Entertainment offerings feature two brand-new stage productions alongside a returning classic. "Voodoo Bayou’s Edge" debuts on the Calico Mine Stage, utilizing fire effects, smoke, dancers, and drums as Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau guides audiences into a spirit underworld. In the newly refurbished Bird Cage Theatre, "Occultum" will feature performers from Hollywood’s private Magic Castle club, the headquarters of the Academy of Magical Arts. Meanwhile, the pop-culture satire and stunt show "The Hanging" returns to its home at the Wagon Camp Theater.

On the park floor, the Boardwalk scare zone "CarnEvil" has been overhauled with a new narrative focus. Shifting away from crazed clowns, the zone now highlights carnival sideshow acts led by Mesmer the Hypnotist, a character previously featured in his own maze from 2021 to 2025. CarnEvil joins four returning scare zones—Ghost Town Streets, Forsaken Lake, Gore-ing 20’s, and The Gauntlet—to complete the park-wide experience.

Six Flags has overhauled its dining pass program for the 2027 season, introducing substantial price hikes on unlimited meal options at Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain. Introduced during a promotional sale that ended Sept. 7, the restructured pricing aims to reduce financial losses caused by high-frequency usage. Under the new lineup, the top-tier Unlimited all-season dining pass is priced at $499 for both Knott’s and Magic Mountain. For Knott’s visitors, this represents a 214 percent increase over the 2026 price of $159, while Magic Mountain passholders face a 404 percent jump from the previous $99 rate.

The adjustments follow extensive online discussions among parkgoers who leveraged previous pass rules to secure cheap daily meals, frequently visiting nearby parks during evening commutes. According to industry website Theme Park Insider, the changes represent a concentrated effort by the theme park operator to manage expenses by curbing meal redemptions on standard options.

Along with higher rates, Six Flags revised the rules governing its Unlimited dining tier. Under the 2026 policy, passholders were capped at two meals per day with a mandatory four-hour interval between orders. The 2027 Unlimited plan removes the daily meal cap entirely, allowing passholders to claim a meal every two hours during any visit, while expanding coverage to all theme parks throughout the Six Flags chain.

To accommodate guests seeking lower-cost alternatives, Six Flags added two tier-restricted options valid only at a passholder’s home park. The Access Dining Pass includes 20 meals per year, costing $139 at Knott’s ($6.95 per meal) and $95 at Magic Mountain ($4.75 per meal). The Plus Dining Pass includes 30 meals per year, costing $179 at Knott’s ($5.97 per meal) and $135 at Magic Mountain ($4.50 per meal).

Despite the initial price jump, the $499 Unlimited plan can still deliver significant per-meal value for frequent visitors. Because Knott’s Berry Farm operates 364 days a year—compared to Magic Mountain’s seasonal calendar—a passholder attending Knott’s daily could theoretically redeem more than 725 meals annually, dropping the average expense to under $1 per meal. At Magic Mountain, dedicated visitors could claim between 400 and 500 meals per year, bringing the average cost to less than $3 per meal. The plans are accepted at participating food locations inside the parks, including 14 eateries at Knott’s Berry Farm such as Prop Shop Pizzeria, Papas Mexicanas, Fireman’s BBQ, and Coasters Diner.

Knott’s Berry Farm has officially reopened its classic Montezooma roller coaster following a comprehensive four-year renovation project. The grand reopening marks a major milestone for the landmark Buena Park theme park as it welcomes guests back to one of its most recognizable rides.

Long considered a beloved staple for generations of local parkgoers and thrill-seekers, the updated attraction was previously known to visitors as Montezooma's Revenge. Following the completion of the multi-year overhaul, guests can now experience the refreshed coaster under its new official title, Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress.

The return of the iconic coaster comes amid broader developments across the competitive Southern California theme park industry. The regional attraction landscape continues to evolve, highlighted by a newly released business documentary that examines how neighboring Disneyland currently sits at a pivotal crossroads.

**Knott’s Berry Farm Temporarily Closes Four Attractions During Peak Summer Season**

BUENA PARK — As Knott’s Berry Farm prepares for the return of its annual Knott’s Scary Farm, the Buena Park theme park is temporarily shuttering four attractions during August for standard seasonal refurbishments and media production work.

The affected rides include Camp Snoopy favorites, a Boardwalk landmark, and Fiesta Village’s newest roller coaster.

In Camp Snoopy, Sierra Sidewinder, a spinning roller coaster that opened in 2007, will be closed for roughly a week from Aug. 10 through Aug. 15. Later in the month, Rapid River Run—a 2004 rockin’ tug flat ride also located in Camp Snoopy—will pause operations for less than a week, closing from Aug. 24 through Aug. 28.

Over on the Boardwalk, the park’s 1976 Sky Cabin observation tower will undergo a two-week seasonal maintenance period from Aug. 28 through Sept. 12.

Meanwhile, the park's newly reimagined attraction in Fiesta Village, Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress, will briefly shut down on Aug. 14 for a one-day film shoot. The multi-launch shuttle coaster—which originally debuted in 1978 as Montezooma’s Revenge—reopened on Aug. 6 after a $20 million overhaul that introduced new supports, track, a revamped launch system, updated coaster trains, and a new backstory. Following the completion of the production work on Aug. 14, the ride is scheduled to reopen to park guests by 3 p.m.

The temporary closures come ahead of Knott’s Scary Farm 2026, which will run on select nights from Sept. 17 through Oct. 31.

In a dramatic shift for the local tourism and entertainment landscape, Knott’s Berry Farm has announced a 50 percent reduction in its season pass prices for the 2027 season. The massive price cut marks a major strategy shift for the iconic Buena Park theme park as regional competition for visitor dollars continues to heat up across Southern California.

The pricing adjustments are part of a broader trend among regional amusement parks, with Six Flags Magic Mountain also lowering its season pass rates for 2027. Following the 50 percent slash, a full-year pass to Knott’s Berry Farm now costs less than a single-day admission ticket to major Southern California competitors, including nearby Disneyland and Universal Studios.

For Buena Park residents and frequent theme park visitors, the move makes year-round access to the park significantly more affordable. As major attractions throughout the region continue to adjust their pricing structures, Knott's aggressive discount positions the local park as an appealing option for families seeking budget-friendly entertainment options for the 2027 season.

Knott’s Berry Farm is expanding its park dining lineup on Friday, Aug. 7, with the official opening of Crafty’s Kitchen. Located in the park’s Charleston Circle section, the new self-service eatery occupies the space previously held by Johnny Rockets, which closed its doors in April to make way for construction.

The restaurant's design centers on the storyline of Crafty Coyote, the pie-stealing character from the nearby Knott’s Bear-y Tales dark ride. According to park lore, the reformed outlaw has abandoned his life of crime to become a chef and proprietor, taking over the former Knott’s Beary Factory cafeteria space. The dining room features immersive thematic decor, including wanted posters, police mug shots of Crafty, and blueprints outlining his unusual fryer inventions.

Inspired by popular dining concepts such as Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and Portillo’s Cake Shakes, the venue offers updated versions of classic theme park meals. Entrees, priced from $19.99 to $20.79, feature hot wings, fried chicken sandwiches served on a biscuit or brioche bun, and chicken tenders prepared using the original Mrs. Knott’s chicken dinner recipe. The hot wings come with a choice of four signature sauces: boysenberry barbecue, garlic and parmesan, buffalo, and sweet chili. Guests can pair their main dishes with sides such as french fries, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and coleslaw.

The dessert selection includes single-serve boysenberry pies for $6.49 and strawberry shortcake for $6.99. Milkshakes cost between $9.99 and $10.99 and are offered in vanilla, chocolate, or a specialty boysenberry pie flavor that blends in pie slices baked daily at the park’s bakery. Crafty’s Kitchen also serves alcoholic beverages, including specialty cocktails like a bourbon cream soda and a mudslide for $21.99, alongside a variety of beer, wine, and cider ranging from $13.99 to $16.49.

Six Flags Magic Mountain has opened a revamped five-acre area aimed at younger visitors and families, transforming the former Bugs Bunny World and Whistlestop Park into the refreshed Looney Tunes Land. The initiative represents an effort to broaden the park's audience beyond its traditional base of thrill seekers.

The updated section features nine rides, including two kiddie coasters, along with upgraded landscaping, softer pavement, and enhanced thematic detail. The overhaul comes two years after the merger between Six Flags Entertainment Corp. and Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which placed Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm under shared ownership. Following last summer’s improvements to the family-focused Hurricane Harbor water park, corporate creative producer Clayton Lawrence noted that enhancing Magic Mountain's appeal for multi-generational families was a primary post-merger objective.

Looney Tunes Land is divided into four mini-areas: Taz-Mania, Road Runner Ridge, Bugs Bunny Play Park, and Camp Duck Amok. The space includes specific visual accents, such as Taz’s footprints embedded in Taz-Mania’s gravel-colored pavement and rockwork-textured flooring in the Daffy Duck area.

To make room for the updates, Magic Mountain retired the vintage Magic Flyer—previously the park's oldest coaster, leaving Gold Rusher as its current eldest—and Tweety’s Escape, a steel birdcage swing ride. Remaining attractions were updated with new story elements. The former Whistlestop Train was converted into Taz’s Tasmanian Train Tours, a slow-moving ride following a storyline about Taz escaping a zoo, dodging traps such as an overgrown mice contraption, and featuring a mechanical Taz alongside a statue of the Tasmanian She-Devil.

Other rides include the Road Runner Express kiddie coaster and the Canyon Cruiser beginner's coaster, which references classic cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd. The children's theater was converted into the Bunny Bowl, decorated with giant carrots. A new statue of the Tasmanian Devil has also been installed.

Additional features are planned for the land, including an augmented reality game along an outback-style trail in Taz-Mania, as well as tunnels and climbing structures coming later this summer to the Bugs Bunny area. Next year, a new coaster overlooking Looney Tunes Land is scheduled to open for thrill seekers.

The area also introduces "Vacation Mayhem," a musical show running under 15 minutes that features Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Sylvester. The performance includes songs such as reworked versions of “The Gold Diggers’ Song (We’re in the Money)” and “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter From Camp),” alongside a segment where Bugs Bunny gambles in Las Vegas. Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding indicated that the live show represents a return to in-park theatrical entertainment, which had been absent for several years.

Magic Mountain recorded 3.3 million visitors in 2024, according to figures from the Themed Entertainment Association. Leadership views the family-friendly redesign as a model for park-wide aesthetic upgrades.

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**Additional Southern California Theme Park News**

* **Knott’s Berry Farm:** The park launches its summer season on Friday with the return of "Ghost Town Alive!" Now in its tenth year, the interactive theater experience set in the fictional town of Calico allows guests to participate in Wild West storylines alongside more than two dozen actors. The event runs on select days and includes a daily in-universe newspaper. * **Legoland California:** The Carlsbad destination is hosting the "FIFA World Cup Experience 2026" from Thursday through July 19. Features include a 30-foot-long Lego replica of SoFi Stadium, brick versions of soccer stars, interactive accuracy challenges, and goal-scoring games against Lego minifigures. * **Disneyland Resort:** Tickets for Disney California Adventure’s Oogie Boogie Bash go on sale June 16 for Magic Key passholders and June 18 for the general public, with the event beginning Aug. 18. Prices range from $139 to $199 depending on the date. This year introduces "Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake," featuring ghostly dancers and floats inspired by Haunted Mansion stretching room portraits, replacing the former "Frightfully Fun Parade." * **Dodger Stadium Drone Show:** A hourlong "Harry Potter"-themed drone show takes place Saturday at 9 p.m., featuring more than 1,200 drones creating images of Hogwarts Castle, magical creatures, and the Sorting Hat. The event includes music, trivia, Butterbeer, and an appearance by actor Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley). Adult tickets start at $52.90. * **Carousel of Progress History:** Following news of an upcoming overhaul to the Walt Disney World attraction—which originated at the 1964 World's Fair before operating at Disneyland from 1967 to 1975—theme park fans recalled the ride's technological optimism, its theme song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," and its prominent General Electric corporate sponsorship.

Construction is officially underway on a new Porto’s Bakery & Cafe at Downtown Disney following years of anticipation and delays. The milestone was recently confirmed in an update posted to Porto’s official Instagram account and shared by Downtown Disney. Located at the east end of the Anaheim outdoor shopping district near Disneyland, the project marks the beginning of major physical work on the site.

The location was previously occupied by La Brea Bakery, which closed its doors in early 2023 shortly after Porto's initially announced its plans during the 2022 D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center. Following initial project delays, a temporary Earl of Sandwich pop-up operated in the footprint before closing in November to allow heavy construction to proceed. Permits filed in April with the Anaheim Planning and Building Department outlined extensive prep work for the site, including capping utilities, removing the foundation, and demolishing the 2,600-square-foot building along with two Disneyland ticket booths.

Newly released concept art reveals an expansive, multi-level establishment designed to feature outdoor patio space on both the first and second floors. The comprehensive venue will house a traditional bakery, a quick-service cafe, a sit-down table-service restaurant, and a full bar. To accommodate guests looking for a quick bite, the ground level will also incorporate a lounge area and a dedicated express window for take-out orders.

The new Downtown Disney destination will mark Porto’s seventh location in Southern California, expanding a popular regional footprint that already includes a bustling site in Buena Park. Meanwhile, fans of the displaced Earl of Sandwich will not have to wait long for its return, as the eatery is currently building a new permanent location on the west end of Downtown Disney, which company officials say is scheduled to open this winter.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Buena Park City Hall on Wednesday, March 11, joining local and regional leaders for a roundtable discussion on veteran affairs and pledging his support for a long-awaited veterans cemetery in Orange County.

The New York Democrat was joined at the meeting by Rep. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Rep. Derek Tran (D-Orange), Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), and Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut.

During the session and a subsequent press conference, Jeffries highlighted the planned Gypsum Canyon project, which is set to become the Southern California State Veterans Cemetery. Despite being home to 84,000 veterans, Orange County remains the largest county in California without a veterans cemetery.

Jeffries promised to push the project across the finish line by coordinating with local, state, and federal officials, including members of the presidential administration. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently offered $10 million in federal funds to the California Department of Veterans Affairs to assist with construction efforts at the Gypsum Canyon site.

Sharing a personal connection, Jeffries recalled the burial of his father, Marland Jeffries, an Air Force veteran who passed away in 2023 at age 85 and was laid to rest at Dayton National Cemetery. Jeffries noted that the dignity shown to his family during that time reinforced the necessity of establishing proper resting places for former service members.

Quirk-Silva, a longtime advocate for the cemetery, stated that the project is approaching completion through collaborative advocacy across all levels of government.

The roundtable also addressed broader national concerns affecting military personnel. Jeffries described the current period as fragile for veterans, pointing to the ongoing conflict with Iran—which has resulted in the deaths of at least seven U.S. service members—alongside increased immigration enforcement impacting military families and mass job cutbacks at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Both Jeffries and Tran voiced strong criticism of the Trump administration's policies regarding federal workforce reductions and veteran services. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday afternoon.

Jeffries noted that traveling to Orange County—where local temperatures reached around 80 degrees while Washington, D.C., braced for potential snow on Thursday—offered valuable firsthand perspective from local service members to help shape federal legislation.

Buena Park’s overall crime rate dropped between 15% and 20% during the first half of this year, aligning with broader regional and statewide trends, according to data presented to the City Council by Interim Police Chief Bradley Geyer.

The city’s Part 1 crime rate—which tracks major property and violent offenses including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and vehicle theft—currently stands at roughly 10 incidents per 1,000 residents. Geyer projects that rate will reach approximately 20 per 1,000 residents by the end of the year, putting Buena Park close to national averages. The city currently sits slightly above the national average for property crimes and slightly below for violent crimes.

Data comparing the first six months of this year to the same period in 2025 shows: * **Larceny-theft:** 637 incidents, up from 623 * **Stolen vehicles:** 88, down from 125 * **Burglaries:** 48, down from 83 * **Aggravated assaults:** 39, down from 57 * **Robberies:** 34, up from 20 * **Rapes:** 14, up from 8

Geographically, District 3 recorded the highest volume of Part 1 crimes, logging 240 incidents in the first six months of the year. Represented by Councilwoman Susan Sonne, the district encompasses Knott’s Berry Farm and a major corridor of Beach Boulevard.

The department also reported faster response times for urgent calls. Average emergency response times for priority-one calls requiring lights and sirens decreased by 20 seconds, dropping to 3 minutes and 20 seconds from 3 minutes and 42 seconds during the same timeframe last year.

The public briefing was requested by Councilwoman Joyce Ahn, who asked the police chief to provide regular updates to the council. Ahn stressed the importance of tracking local crime patterns and showing how revenue from Measure R is being spent. Passed by voters roughly two years ago, the 1% sales tax increase generates approximately $20 million annually for public safety and property crime prevention.

Law enforcement remains the single largest expense in the city's general fund. In the adopted budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, roughly 42% of Buena Park’s more than $100 million general fund is designated for the police department. The general fund serves as the main operating pool for primary municipal services, including fire, libraries, parks, and recreation.

Councilman Carlos Franco suggested making crime statistics easier for residents to review directly online. While the department maintains an interactive neighborhood crime map and publishes Part 1 stats on its website, the posted statistics only covered through the first quarter of 2026 as of Wednesday morning. Police are slated to deliver a full crime presentation to the council in October.

Council members also pressed police leadership on specific offense categories during the meeting. Addressing vehicle thefts, Geyer noted that catching car thieves in the act is difficult, relying heavily on targeted surveillance, fingerprints, and DNA evidence. He added that residents frequently leave valuables inside unlocked cars, though the department's dedicated auto theft detective successfully recovers the majority of stolen vehicles.

Councilwoman Sonne expressed concern over the rise in reported sexual assaults, pointing out that the 14 rapes reported in the first half of this year approach the 16 recorded throughout all of last year. Sonne requested additional analysis on violent crime locations to see if targeted measures, such as enhanced street lighting or increased police patrols, are needed in specific areas.